Children are exposed to a lot of screen time on TVs, tablets, computers, and phones. So how much is just right? There is no definitive answer based on age or app in terms of speech and language development. But there are ways to help guide your decision making when determining the amount of screen time for your child.
Content- not all content is created equal. Look for content that is age-appropriate, engaging, and supports language development.
Context- how you and your child interact during screen time plays a role in determining duration. Giving your child a tablet to watch on their own would have less screen time than if you were watching together, providing language models, and pausing the video to make connections.
Your Child- you know your child best. Consider their behavior during screen time, the time of day, and start/end transitions. It’s also important to think about what the screen time could be replacing in the day. Is it replacing other activities that should take priority like play, movement, reading, or social interaction with family or peers?
Consider these 3 factors when setting up screen time for you and your family!
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